Dial indicator



Feb. 12, 1952 w. E. CARROLL 2,585,368

DIAL INDICATOR Filed Sept. 19, 1946 V 5 Wm INVEN TOR.

indicating spindle mounted Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED 1 {STATE s PATENT OFFICE 1 asssses DIAL INDICATOR wallaceli Carroll, Chicago, Ill. 'Amiiicati dn September 19, 1946, Serial No. 698,005 I V "'i"'ir.cai.....'i (01. 33-112) This invention'relates to gages. More'particularly, it relates to a gage of the "dialindicator type in which the indicator is' actuated by means of a single continuous strandcooperatively associated with apressure'sen'sitive recip-' i'ocating shaft, and the provision of such a device is a principal object of the invention.

Specifically, it is an object of the inventionto provide a dialindicator having a pressure sensitive reciprocating shaft'and an indicating spindle mounted in a casing with means including a continuous flexible strand wound around the spindle for actuating the same responsive to the movement of the shaft, the terminal ends of the strand being secured within the casing, and at least one end of the strand being connected to the shaft.

More specifically, it is an'object of the invention to provide 'a'di'al indicator constituting a pressure sensitive reciprocating shaft and an within a casing with means including a continuous flexible strand of wire or glass, or other suitable material, wound around the spindle toactuate itiresponsiveto the movement of the shaftythe terminal ends of the strand being secured within the casing and at least one end of the strand being connected to a spring member inmthe casing, and the other end of the strand being connected to an anchor member projecting from the shaft a distance such that the strand is disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the spindle.

Another object of the invention is the provisionof gage of the character above described which utilizes a spindle collet having a peripheral groove adapted to receive and guide the strand as it is actuated, the collet further being so constructed that it can be made to grip the strand at a selected portion intermediate its ends.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relationship of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the'claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and I objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating agpreferred form of dial indicator embodied by/the invention; 1..

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the casing of Fig.1; 'i-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the indicator depicted in Fig. 1; 7

Fig.4 is a rear view of Figs. 1 through 3; V I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the strand and spring arrangement; and r Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of strand and spring'arrangement utilizing a spindle collet.

-Referring more particularly tothe drawing there is shown a casing indicated generally at in having a downwardly extending tubular portion [I in which is mounted a pressure sensitive reciprocating shaft l2. The casing is apertured in its'top providing an upwardly extendingtubular portion II to receive the upward thrust of the upper portion of the shaft. The shaft l2 also is s'lidably mounted in a bearing l3 within the casing. I

Extending toward the shaft I2 is a spindle Hi. One end of this spindle is carried by one end of the bearing l3 and the other end of the spindle passes through a slottedpfront bearing plate i5 in which thev shaft i2 is journaled, said plate being secured within an opening in the casing. Secured to the spindle I4 is a conventional finger indicator or pointer.

The spindle I4 is actuated by means of a single continuous strand I6 which can be made of wire, glass, or other suitable material. Preferably, one end of this strand is secured to an anchor post I! which in turn is connected to the shaft l2, the end of the anchor post projecting sufiiciently to ride in the slot of the front plate 15. 'An intermediate portion of the strand is lapped or wound several times around the spindle l4 and the other end of the strand l6 preferably is connected to a spring l8 secured within the casing [0.

The strand i6 may be wound around the spindle [4 as indicated in Fig. 5, or it may be wound in the grooved portion of a collet I9 secured to the shaft l2 as more fully disclosed in Fig. 6. While the strand is not secured to the shaft [2 in the modification depicted in Fig. 5, it will be observed that the peripheral groove in the collet l9 of Fig. 6 is such that a selected portion of the edges of the groove may be peened over if it is desired to secure the strand l6 firmly in fixed position with respect to the collet so that the strand 8.1-

the device shown ways maintains its position on the collet after it has been turned in either direction.

The device can conveniently be afiixed to a standard by means of the bracket 20 connected to the back of the casing.

In operation, when pressure is brought to bear against the bottom of the shaft l2 it slidably is reciprocated through the tubular portion H of the casing, the bearing member l3 and into the apertured portion As it moves upwardly, the anchor post 11 moves in the same direction carrying with it the strand 16 which in turn actuates the spindle 14 around which it is wound against the resiliency of the spring [8. Release of of the shaft 12 will cause the same to be re turned to its initial position because of the spring l8. It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readily and efiiciently be attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above article and diiferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dial indicator of the character described, the combination comprising an annular casing having a closed back portion and an open front, a bearing plate secured within said open front, said casing having opposed tubular bearing extensions, a central bearing member upwardly extending from said back portion and provided with a tubular opening in alignment with said tubular bearing extensions, a pressure-sensitive reciprocating shaft slidably mounted within the tubular opening 'of'said central bearing and said tubular bearing extensions, a spindle adapted at the top of the casing.

pressure against the end 2,585,368 "if f totreceive an indicate, at one endfimum in ermediate portion Ce l M an plate, and its other end li iggp p ggf central bearing in front of, and sggzg ii l i pendicularly to said shaft, and a singl g g flexible strand encircling said spindle, a -geting member on an intermediate portion otsaid shaft between said central bearing and one of saidtubular bearing extensions, one end of said strand being connected tosaid projecting member and the other end of said strand being connected within said casing between said central bearing and the other of said tubular bearing extensions; whereby to rotate said spindle when said shaft is actuated.

2. In a dial indicator as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said other end of said strand is connected to said casing.

3. In a dial indicator as defined in claim 1, and further characterized-in that said other endof said strand is connected to said casing by means of a spring member.

4. In a dial indicator as defined 'in claim 1, andfurther characterized in that said spindle carries a collet secured thereto, said collet having a helical, peripheral groove therein and an intermediate portion of said strand being wound within said groove around said collet.

WALLACE E. CARROLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

